Abstract
Mapping a Garden: Utilizing ArcGIS to Improve Living Collections Management
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Rebecca Sucher, Chris Freeland
Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) is one of the nation's oldest botanical gardens and a National Historic Landmark. Recently, MBG conducted a major revision of its Living Collections Management System which unified several disparate datasets developed over the last twenty years, including the locations of more than 30,000 plants mapped in ArcGIS. The new database system provides a modern, mobile-enabled platform for the management of MBG's living collections. Built with ArcGIS Server 10 and .NET web applications, the system enables MBG Horticulture staff to record plant inventories, assessments, and maintenance events, while also facilitating the reuse of those data for educational purposes on the grounds, the MBG web site and mobile devices. This presentation will show techniques used for integrating ArcGIS Server 10 into our database system to improve the care and management of MBG's living collections, and to increase public awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of plants.